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Would you want different equipment rules for pros?


chershey

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The recent MGS article about shaving your driver face and gaining distance really had me thinking about about a hot topic on tour right now. There are a lot of people in golf that feel that tour pros equipment, including golf balls, should be regulated to a higher level than amateurs equipment. This is something that would personally bother me because I really enjoy playing the same level of equipment as the pros because it allows me to compare what I'm doing in my game to what the PGA tour stars are doing. I like knowing things like, "My carry distance is only 200 yards less than Dustin Johnson's." Okay, that's a slight exaggeration but you get the point. My question to you is, would you play equipment that doesn't meet USGA requirements now (like the shaved driver face) or would you mind playing differently regulated equipment and balls than the PGA tour stars?

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That type of equipment is available with JDM manufacturers. I think in N.A. the equipment won't change until people want it to and are alright with not play what DJ, JD, Spieth, etc. are playing.

 

As far as balls, I know Dunlop made a ball with an illegal core that supposedly made it longer. Didn't noticed much of a difference

 

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I understand the thread but I don't get people. Aren't the best in the world the best for a reason? Have you ever seen a major league player throw or hit a baseball up close? How about an NFL QB or kicker. You want to try LeBron one on one? I was shooting some hoops in the gym the other day and realized that Steph Curry would shoot a normal jumper from just short of half court.

 

There are already "rules" that are different enough between the pros and we and in the courses that they play are longer and set up tougher.

 

I don't mind that someone who makes his or her look bing playing golf is better than me. I'm going to guess that I'm a better preacher and teacher. :)

 

 

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A lot of the pros are not playing the exact equipment that's for sale to the public anyway, they are playing "Tour only editions" or prototypes of clubs and balls.

 

Many pros are playing models of balls that aren't available to the public anymore too

 

 

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A lot of the pros are not playing the exact equipment that's for sale to the public anyway, they are playing "Tour only editions" or prototypes of clubs and balls.

 

Many pros are playing models of balls that aren't available to the public anymore too

Yes, but they still have to conform to the same rules that apply to you and me. 

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No.. . 1 game 1 rules

But it's not really the same game. For example, pros almost never lose a golf ball. Someone always sees where it went. We, on the other hand, have lost countless golf balls that really shouldn't have been lost. That is a lot of penalties. It's just not quite fair, IMO. But as for equipment, I think it should stay the same. That's why we have multiple sets of tees. I just think there are a couple of rules that could be tweaked. Lost balls and allow the use of rangefinders, I think...

 

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But it's not really the same game. For example, pros almost never lose a golf ball. Someone always sees where it went. We, on the other hand, have lost countless golf balls that really shouldn't have been lost. That is a lot of penalties. It's just not quite fair, IMO. But as for equipment, I think it should stay the same. That's why we have multiple sets of tees. I just think there are a couple of rules that could be tweaked. Lost balls and allow the use of rangefinders, I think...

 

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Same game but just different individual skill level.
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Does anyone ever notice the "other" sites and the witb, they hardly ever show the face of the clubs. I don't care what anyone says, their stuff has to be hot rodded. Special built clubs and balls made to look like the ones we mere amateurs get to play. Just my opinion. Not sure if there is any truth to it.

 

 

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Same game but just different individual skill level.

What I meant was, the gallery at PGA events saves players strokes because virtually every tee shot is seen by someone in the gallery. Everyday players don't have that luxury...

 

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:mizuno-small: JPX EZ 3 wood
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:mizuno-small: MP-60, 3i-PW, True Temper Dynamic Gold
:mizuno-small: S5 54° & 58°, True Temper Dynamic Gold
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Does anyone ever notice the "other" sites and the witb, they hardly ever show the face of the clubs. I don't care what anyone says, their stuff has to be hot rodded. Special built clubs and balls made to look like the ones we mere amateurs get to play. Just my opinion. Not sure if there is any truth to it.

 

 

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Don't have much of any eye for details, but how would looking at the face be able to tell if its modified?

 

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What I meant was, the gallery at PGA events saves players strokes because virtually every tee shot is seen by someone in the gallery. Everyday players don't have that luxury...

 

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but you could probably save strokes by not hitting it where it was hard to find. Like in the fairway for instance. Pro or not, it's usually conducive to lower scores. 

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Are you saying you've never lost a golf ball in the fairway or second cut before?! I play at cheap munincipal golf courses where the fairway is about 2 inches high...

 

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:mizuno-small: JPX EZ 3 wood
:cobra-small: Fly-Z 4H
:mizuno-small: MP-60, 3i-PW, True Temper Dynamic Gold
:mizuno-small: S5 54° & 58°, True Temper Dynamic Gold
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:titelist-small: Pro V1x

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Not at all. One of the reasons I love golf is everyone is playing the same game

Same answer.

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Driver:       :taylormade-small: '17 M2

 

Woods:     :taylormade-small: M2 3W and 5W

 

Hybrids:   :callaway-logo-1: Apex 3h and 5h  

Irons:          :mizuno-small:   MP 18 MMC

 

Wedges:   :callaway-logo-1: MD PM Grind, 56* and 60*

Putter:      :scotty-cameron-1: California Sonoma

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Don't have much of any eye for details, but how would looking at the face be able to tell if its modified?

 

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Well, like I said I might be wrong, but to think these guys are playing the same grooves we are, is nuts. They are maxed out in every way, face milling to the max. Weighted perfectly, balanced...

 

Anyone that thinks the go buy the same club as what (insert pro name here) and you are getting what (insert pro name here) uses on tour are crazy.

 

Those clubs are custom built for those guys. They might be very similar to what we get, but take Rickie for example, his irons and wedges have way different weighting than the retail version.

 

Just because the NASCAR version of the Toyota Camry is a fast car, doesn't mean the one at your local dealer will be.

 

I am sure that I have no idea what I am talking about, but then again I might.

 

 

- Alan

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I understand your point, but the Nascar comparison is a bit sensationalist.

 

Are tour players playing clubs that might be more exact to spec for them? Absolutely. But it's not like they are playing completely different equipment

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So, to say we get the same "brand x" forged iron as say JT? You can't tell me they don't have special forgings for those guys? Might have tighter grain specs... I'd like to see some investigation on that.

 

 

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So, to say we get the same "brand x" forged iron as say JT? You can't tell me they don't have special forgings for those guys? Might have tighter grain specs... I'd like to see some investigation on that.

 

 

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I do not think this is the case at all.

 

Tighter tolerances? Absolutely

Custom weighting? Sure

Custom grinds/bounces? You bet

 

But other then clubs are otherwise the same

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You're probably right jlukes. I just want to see it proven. Jimmy Walkers 7 iron with the same loft and shaft as the off the shelf 718MB.

 

 

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I have visited a major OEM and seen their tour workshop. They're the same clubs only the pros and get EXACTLY what they they want spec/feel wise.
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I have visited a major OEM and seen their tour workshop. They're the same clubs only the pros and get EXACTLY what they they want spec/feel wise.

Must be nice. I wish I could call up the shop and say add 2g of weight to the middle, just a fraction towards the toe, on the sole. Oh and I don't want to see it.

 

The joys of being a professional, I guess.

 

 

- Alan

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I'm glad to see that at least in this small sample size that no one wants different equipment rules for the pros. I'd be interested in seeing more info on differences between tour equipment vs off the rack equipment as well. For instance, the M2 driver has had a lot of success on tour this year, but I keep wondering if the M2 the PGA pros are playing has less draw bias or more of an open face compared to the retail version.

Titleist TS3 9.5* w/Accra TZ5 65 X-Stiff
Titleist TS3 15* w/Fujikura Ventus 7X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 20* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Callaway Apex19 Hybrid 23* w/Accra TZ5 95X
Titleist 718 CB 5 iron w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist 718 MB 6-PW w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Titleist SM7 Wedges 50*, 54*, 58* w/KBS $Taper X-Stiff
Bettinardi Queen B 10 34.5"
Titleist Pro V1 or Snell MTB-X

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I have never done a comparison but I think pros play the same equipment as we do. In my opinion the differences are the tolerances they get as part of the club builds. All equipment is weighed and frequencies checked to ensure they get the best performing clubs. We buy off the rack and get clubs that might not be perfectly matched between clubs. It is like having that club in your set that you always hit a little better or a little worse than the others.

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Fairway: :titelist-small: TS3 15*  w/Project X Hzardous Smoke
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Different rules would not bother me.  There are multiple examples where this is already in play in other sports.  The NFL plays with a bigger ball than the NCAA which plays with a bigger ball than high school.  MLB outlaws metal bats and plays 4 balls 3 strikes (vs. 3 and 2 in high school).  The reality is we already play a much different game than the pros do.

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I'm more in favor of a tournament ball that's rolled back a bit than anything else on the equipment side. On the Rules of Golf side I would definitely like to see "tour only" rules and "recommended local rules". I'd start with drop at point of entry for all hazards, OB and lost balls for club golfers. Let's throw one down, add a shot, and move on.

 

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